Eight people were killed when a ship capsized in central China's Henan Province on Friday morning, local police said.

The boat carrying 23 people unexpectedly capsized at around 6 PM Friday at Xinye County section of the Baihe River, throwing all the people on board into the water. Eight passengers, mostly women, drowned, said the police.

Local authorities rushed to the spot and begun an emergency rescue along 10 kilometers of the river. Chen Xiantang, owner of the boat, is still missing, said the police.

It appears that the overloading led to the tragedy. Further investigation is under way.

(Xinhua News Agency January 14, 2006)